Fish Handling and Gear

Handling Fish Properly

• Handle fish as little as possible and only with wet hands. This reduces the removal of fish slime, which protects the fish from infection and aids in swimming.
• Match tackle to the targeted fish to land it quickly and minimize stress on the fish. Large species such as sharks, billfish and tarpon should be brought alongside the boat within 20 minutes of being hooked. If you are consistently landing exhausted fish that require extensive efforts to resuscitate, consider using heavier tackle.
• A knotless, rubber-coated landing net is ideal when handling a fish since it supports the fish’s body weight.
• Remember, fish swim horizontally! Never hold a fish by its jaw, gills or eyes.
• Large fish, such as tarpon, should not be boated or dragged over the gunwale of the boat because this could injure the internal organs of the fish.
• When holding a fish that has teeth, use a gripping tool to support the front of the fish, and use the other hand under the belly to evenly support the fish's weight.
• Never hold on to or tow a fish not allowed to be harvested to a different location to weigh or measure it.
• Carefully remove the hook if possible. If the fish is gut-hooked or especially large or agitated, cut the line as close to the hook as you can while the fish is still in the water.
• Reduce handling by using a dehooking tool. Dehooking tools allow anglers to quickly release their catch while minimizing injuries and handling time. 
• Always release your fish head first into the water. This allows water to be forced through the mouth and over the gills, essentially giving it a “breath of fresh air.”

Handling Fish Caught From a Pier

• Always be ready with a dehooking tool and line cutters.
• Only bring fish on to the pier or bridge if you intend to harvest them.
• Only target fish from a bridges or piers if you have specialized gear (pier nets or slings) to support their entire body; large fish can be injured if they are dropped from the pier or not supported properly.
• If you cannot properly lift the fish, cut the line as close to the fish as possible before releasing it (which may mean walking the fish to shore if fishing from a pier).
• Learn more about handling large species such as sharks and goliath.
• Learn more about Pier Fishing by visiting the Saltwater Fishing Tips page.

Watch this handling tips video for spotted seatrout.

Circle Hooks

Circle hooks are designed so the point is turned perpendicular to the shank to form a circular or oval shape. They are best used with natural bait (live or dead) and are 90% more likely to hook fish in the mouth instead of in the esophagus or stomach. Hooking a fish in the mouth reduces internal harm, decreases dehooking time, and lessens the chances of the angler needing to leave the hook in the fish. Fish hooked in the corner of the mouth also tend to fight less than fish that are hooked in the gut. It is best to use non-stainless-steel and non-offset circle hooks. 

If a fish is hooked deep in the throat or gut, research has shown that it is best to cut the leader as close to the hook as possible and leave the hook in the fish. Prolonged attempts to remove the hook often do more harm than good. 

Circle Hook Tips! Try fishing with barbless hooks or crimp the barb down. Catch rates using barbed versus barbless hooks are not significantly different, but the advantage of using barbless hooks is that they are easier to remove from a fish or yourself! Also remember to not “set” the circle hook. After the fish takes the bait, allow the fish to run and then proceed to reel it in. Watch this video to learn more about circle hooks. 

Circle hooks are required in some areas. Learn more about gear requirements.